title: The Influence of Acupressure at Extra 1 Acupuncture Point on the Spectral Entropy of the EEG and the LF/HF Ratio of Heart Rate Variability.
abstract: Acupressure applied on the Extra 1 acupuncture point results in sedation, thereby reducing bispectral index (BIS) values. Mental status and hypnotic agents influence the autonomic nervous system. We hypothesized that acupressure at the Extra 1 point would induce sedation and change sympatho-parasympathetic nerve balance. We investigated the effect of acupressure at the Extra 1 point on the EEG spectral entropy values and heart rate variability (HRV). Forty-eight volunteers (24 males and 24 females) were randomly assigned to the control or Extra 1 group. The control group received acupressure at a sham point and the Extra 1 group received acupressure at the Extra 1 point. Acupressure was applied for 5 min. The record of the EEG spectral entropy values and HRV started 5 min before acupressure and stopped 5 min after acupressure. Acupressure significantly reduced the EEG spectral entropy values in both groups, but the values of the Extra 1 group were significantly smaller than those of the control group (P < .01). Acupressure significantly decreased the LF/HF ratio of HRV in both groups (P < .05). When divided upon gender, although acupressure tended to decrease the LF/HF ratio, the ratio significantly decreased during and after acupressure only in females of the Extra 1 group (P < .05). We concluded that acupressure on the Extra 1 point significantly reduced the EEG spectral entropy in both the genders, but affected the LF/HF ratio of HRV only in females.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, Aichi Medical University, School of Medicine, 21 Karimata, Nagakutecho, Aichigun, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
authors.forename: Young-Chang P
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ushida
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimo
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wakao
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komatsu